Sunday, October 2, 2016

Vintage Greeting Cards for a Sweet New Year

Rosh Hashanah is both somber and celebratory. Jews reflect on our past year, to begin the process of asking forgiveness. We pray, and listen to the blasts of the shofar, the ram's horn, that shakes us to our souls. Culinarily, we indulge in apple slices dipped in honey, and circular challah bread, round like the year.

Another colorful custom: For more than 100 years, Jews have sent each other Rosh Hashanah greeting cards.

Don't get me wrong, I treasure the musical e-cards I receive from friends and family - but they'll never match the charm of the vintage paper cards from the late 1800s forward. Here's one I showed off a couple of years ago, found in my husband's family photo album
American patriotism is a common theme. I recently discovered a stash of vintage Rosh Hashanah greeting cards in Wikimedia. The next elaborate postcard from their collection also celebrates immigration and American patriotism:
The Yiddish, says "Happy New Year Ship Card." (Among other things). It's from about 1930. See details here.

Next, another immigration-themed card, a fabulous pop-up:
A closer look.The next pop-up card seems to be celebrating the end of WWII. It's dated 1950. Tanks appear to be rolling in to liberate a town? What town? Any ideas? See details.
Next, a simple but spooky pansy:

Pages

About Me

I was born with a desperate need to make stuff. I mostly make quilts, but also experience intermittent crochet spasms (especially freeform crochet). This is a blog about my quilts and other compulsions. Professionally, I'm a writer, editor, and designer. My patterns are for sale on this blog's pattern page at http://gefiltequilt.blogspot.com/p/my-patterns.html. My Judaic project ideas and patterns are on my website, http://www.judaiquilt.com. I am currently the international president of the Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Needlework (pomegranateguild.org). Email me at cathy(dot)perlmutter(at)gmail(dot)com.